Management of cutaneous metastases using electrochemotherapy

Louise Wichmann Matthiessen, Richard Ling Chalmers, David Christopher George Sainsbury, Sivakumar Veeramani, Gareth Kessell, Alison Claire Humphreys, Jane Elisabeth Bond, Tobian Muir, Julie Gehl*

*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

    Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftArtikelForskningpeer review

    Abstract

    Background. Cutaneous metastases may cause considerable discomfort as a consequence of ulceration, oozing, bleeding and pain. Electrochemotherapy has proven to be highly effective in the treatment of cutaneous metastases. Electrochemotherapy utilises pulses of electricity to increase the permeability of the cell membrane and thereby augment the effect of chemotherapy. For the drug bleomycin, the effect is enhanced several hundred-fold, enabling once-only treatment. The primary endpoint of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of electrochemotherapy as a palliative treatment. Methods. This phase II study is a collaboration between two centres, one in Denmark and the other in the UK. Patients with cutaneous metastases of any histology were included. Bleomycin was administered intratumourally or intravenously followed by application of electric pulses to the tumour site. Results. Fifty-two patients were included. Complete and partial response rate was 68% and 18%, respectively, for cutaneous metastases <3 cm and 8% and 23%, respectively, for cutaneous metastases >3 cm. Treatment was well-tolerated by patients, including the elderly, and no serious adverse events were observed. Conclusions. ECT is an efficient and safe treatment and clinicians should not hesitate to use it even in the elderly.

    OriginalsprogEngelsk
    Sider (fra-til)621-629
    Antal sider9
    TidsskriftActa Oncologica
    Vol/bind50
    Udgave nummer5
    DOI
    StatusUdgivet - 1 jun. 2011

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